Crate-salvaging apparatus



Nov. 30 1926v F. B. HENNEY CRATE SALVAGING APPARATUS Filed F'eb. 16 1925 Ffa. i

Nov. 30 1926.

F. B. HENNEY CRATE SALVAGING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1l

SMM-dot FWN/f 5. HENNEY attain,

Patented Nov. 3f), 19,26.

UNITED STATES FRANK B. HENNEY, OF

YUCAPA, CALIFORNIA.

GRATE-SALVAGING APPARATUS.

Application filed February My invention relates to a crate salvaging apparatus, more particularly adapted for salvaging fruit boxes, such as apple boxes.

The manufacturing and using new apple 5 or other fruit boxes is very expensive, and since a great many used boxes, with contents sold and emptied, are available, I am using these latter boxes for packing an inferior grade of fruit. These boxes, however, carry foreign labels and various other markings incidental to going through the trade, and, therefore, are not always desirable to be used in this condition. The machine or apparatus which I have invented, is adapted to take the boxes apart with very little expense and salvage practically all of the shook, that is, the ends, sides, bottom, top and cleats of the box, the portion of the apparatus for removing the bottoms of the boxes are not shown or described.

The objects of my invention are; First, to provide an apparatus of the class mentioned for removing the sides of a box or crate; second, to provide an apparatus of this class for simultaneously removing the opposite long sides of the box from the end members thereof; third, to provide anapparatus of this class having a foot lever means whereby the box adapted to be disassembled or salvaged is clamped in an inverted position at the top portion of the apparatus and whereby the'relatively thin long box members secured at their ends to the end members are forced or pried from said end members ;V fourth, to provide novel foot lever means for performing the functions above mentioned; fifth, to provide novel means for removing the nails from the box members pried from said end members; sixth, to provide a novelly constructed box salvaging apparatus, and seventh, to pro vide an apparatus of this class which is simple and economical of construction, durable, efficient, easy to operate, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

lNith these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construc- 16, 1925. Serial No. 9,553.

tion, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which: '35

Figure l is a front elevational view of my box salvaging apparatus; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view thereof, with the section taken through 2-2 of Fig. 3 on a reduced scale; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of my apparatus on an enlarged scale; Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the upper portion of my apparatus, with the section taken through lf-Ll of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the nail removing means of my apparatus.

Like characters of reference refer to simllar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The frame 1, upright supports 2, clamping levers 3, brackets 4i, links 5 and 6, foot lever 7, brackets 8, spring 9, rod 10, prying members 11, bolts 12, lever arms 13, shaft 14, journals 15, journal blocks 16, shaft rotating arm 17, link 18, bracket 19, foot lever 20, spring 21, retaining members 22, nail removing plate 23, and the angular guide member 24, constitute the principal parts and portions of my apparatus.

The frame 1 of my apparatus may be of any construction desired. but is preferably provided at its sides with supporting tables la. At the middle portion of the frame are secured a pair of upright supporting members 2, which are positioned in spaced rela* tion with each other, the distance between their outer sides at their lower endsbeing substantially the length of the inside of the boxes adapted to be taken apart. These members 2 are preferably inclined toward each other at their upper ends so as to permit the boxes, indicated by B, to be readily positioned over said members. The upright supporting members 2 are provided at their upper ends with upwardly extending lugs 2a which are adapted to extend through the space or longitudinal slot usually provided between the separate members S1 oi the bottom oit the box. These lugs 2fL are adapted to position the upper end of thek i otally connected at their lopposite ends with veach.:o-her.Y .Ait the pivotal connection ofthe .links is pivotally connected anotherli-nk 6 Whichin turn is pivotally connected at, its opposite end intermediate the ends of the foot lever 7,' Whichlootlever is pivotally ,connected at its' rear end to avbracket 8 mounted on the ,frame 1. At the pivotal connection of the linksev with each :other is `coifiyneeted:the,one end of a tension spring 9 which isy secured at its .opposite end to the .under side-ofthe top, ofthe vtrame. When thetootl-.ever

r is. depressechthe end-s of the links 5 connected Withzeach other' are iow- .ered, forcing the lofvverends of theclampine levers 3, .apart and their Yupper :ends to-Wiud each othericlamping.the box positioned over the A.mer-nbers 2- infiposition on the top of the table and against tlidmembers 2. '01,1 the top 1? @itt-he ytrame v14 and between the upright supporting members. 2 are secured a pairz otspaced apart. blocks 16 onivhich are mounted journal.

members 15 in which is revolubly-Inounted ,a shaft. 141:. v,Near the ends of sha-'it 14?: are .securedpairs oit, oppositely-disposed slotted leve arms 13. `which are; pivotal-ly connectedby means ot bolts 12 toi-nwardly extending `arms 11a o the upright prying members' 11, a pair .ot which is 'positionednear the ends of the sha-tt 14.

.The inwardly-,extending armsllay of each pair., otprying members 11 exten'djtorvard the.oppositelypositioned prying member and on` theopposite sideso- Ithe shaft '14. Each ot the inwardlyextending arms 11L is 'preterably prlovided with. -horizontal slots. 11b through. Whichext-end inwardly' bent vlugs 2 secured' to the inner sides of the upright snpporting members 2,AA as shown best in Figsy and- 4L, V4The lugs 2P are adapted to guide the prying members 11 in. their horizontal'reciprocal movement and retain the'outer prying portions thereotin. a substa:ntiallyv upright. position.

The shatt 14 islprovided intermediate its ends With'an outwardly extendingl arm y17 which is pivotally connected Iat its outer end,

by means of a link 1S, with a bracket 19 secured intermediate the ends of the foot lever 20. The foot lever 2O is pivotally mounted at its rear end on upwardly extending brackets 1d secured on a. cross member at the lower portion of the frame 17 as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2. To the bracket 19 is connected the one end ot a tension spring 21 which is connected at itsopposite orupp-er end to the'under side or" the top ot the frame Jfor retaining the foot lever 2O in its upper position.

On both sides of the middle portion of the apparat-us` areprovided pairs ot spaced apart upwardly and outwardly inclined box member suppo'rtinzg` brackets or retaining inembers 22V7- which are secured at their lower ends'to the' top ofthe trame, as shown best in 3 and 4, for holding the side membersv S ofthe box. in position after the same are pried from the end :membersl E of the box, as shown by dotted lines in Figli.

Then the boxl desiredV toy be taken apart, isv positioned over the 'upright support-ing members 2 and clamped' inlposition by the elamping levers 3, as described above, by means of the tootV lever 7, the other toot lever l2() is depressed', which rotatesthe shatt le in afclockivise direction, orcingthe prying `members 11 outwardly against thev inner ,sides ot *the lateral side iiiembers l"of the box B,.} iryingl said membcrsfrom 'the end mem- .lersfof the box. It desired'7 the'side edges oi the endA members of the box may be similarlyclamped between the upright support-ing Imembers 2 and the clamp'ino levers 3.,r yand the bottom panels or members; S1 pried :trom the end members in a similar manner.

The means for vremoving the nails trom the ends ot the box members which members .avere secured to theend members of the box consists oi a. plate 23,. shown best in` Fig. 5, secured to 'the front portionot` the upper side of thetop of the trame, and an angular guide 24' secured to the under side ot the front portion ot the plate Said plate is provided with a slotv23near its front edge o a'ividth to receive the shank portions ot the nails of thebox but Vsutiicien-tly small to retain the heads of the, nails N' ati-the upper side of theplate', as shown best in Fig. 5.

,Yi`7hen desiring lto remove the nails trom the members of thebox, said members are struck with the ends provided lwith the nails against the ple-.m23 with the pointsot'the nails projectingdoivnivardlyfl The impact of said members against the plate' 23 dri-ves the nails ontvva'rdly'.` The nails are then inserted into the slotted portion23a o the plate 2,3 with the topside' oft-he box members against the underside of the 'inclined member 2li and movedtouthe left. The'latter movement of the boards or box nemb'ers yprovided with the nails removes said' nails completely from the box members. At the inner end of the slot- 23 ot the plate 23 is provided an enlarged hole 23h through which the nails are permitted to drop into any receptacle not shown, after being removed from the box members.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement ot parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

l. In a crate salvaging apparatus, a frame, upright positioning members secured on said Jframe, prying members reciprocaily mounted to press outwardly at the upper portion of said frame between said upright positioning members, and foot lever means tor clamping a box over said positioning members and for actuating said prying members.

Q. In a crate salvaging apparatus, a frame, upright positioning members secured on said trame, clamping members shiftably mounted at the outer sides of said positioning members, lever means for actuating said clamping members, a plurality of prying members reciprocally mounted to press outwardly at the upper portion of said frame between said positioning members, and another lever means Jfor actuating said prying members.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a trame, upright positioning members mounted on said frame, clamping members shittably mounted at the outer' sides of said positioning members, lever means for actuating said clamping members, a plurality of prying members reciprocally mounted at the upper portion of said frame between said positioning members, a shaft rotatably mounted on said frame between said positioning members, arms connecting said shaft with said prying members, and a toot lerer connected with said shaft for rotating the same.

4. In a crate salvaging apparatus, a -traine, a plurality of permanent upright positioning members provided at their upper ends with positioning lugs adapted to be inserted through slotted portions in the walls ot boxes adapted to be taken apart, clamping members positioned at the outer sides of said upright positioning members,

and 'tootlever means for actuating said clamping members whereby the ends of bones adapted to be positioned over said positioning member may be clamped in position.

5. In a crate salvaging apparatus, a tramo, a plurality of permanent upright positioning members provided at their upper ends with positioning lugs adapted to be inserted through slotted portions in the walls of boxes adapted to be taken apart, clamping levers pivotally mounted intermediate their ends atthe outer sides of said upright positioning members adapted to clamp ends of boxes between the same and said upright positioning members, links connected at their one ends to the lower ends of said clamping levers and at their opposite ends with each other, and a foot lever means pivotally connected with the ends otl said links connected with each other.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame, a plurality ot' upright positioning members provided at their upper ends with positioning lugs adapted to be inserted through slotted portions in the walls of boxes adapted to be taken apart, clamping members positioned at the outer sides of said upright positioning members, foot lever means for actuating said clamping members whereby the ends ot' boxes adapted to be positioned over said positioning members may be clamped in position, prying members reciprocally mounted at the Lipper portion of said trame adapted to engage the inner sides oi' the box members connecting said end members, and means for reciprocating said prying members.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame, a plurality of upright positioning members provided at their upper ends with positioning lugs adapted to be inserted through slotted portions in the walls of boxes adapted to be taken apart, clamping members positioned at the outer sides ot said upright positioning members, foot lever means for actuating said clamping members whereby the ends of boxes adapted to be positioned over said positioning members may be clamped in position, prying members reciprocally mounted at the upper portion ot' said trame adapted to engage the inner sides ot' the box members connecting said end members, a shaft rotatably mounted on said iframe between said positioning members, arms connecting said shaft with said prying members, and a ioot lever connected with said shaft for rotating the same.

8. In a crate salvaging apparatus, a trame, a clamping means in connection with the upper portion thereof, pairs of oppositely disposed outwardly pressing prying members positioned between said clamping means and reciprocally mounted relatively to said frame, and means for actuating said prying members in opposite directions, for removing side members from crates.

i, 9,5111; en apparatus of the dass described, s; treme, @clamping means n Connection with the upper portion thereof, pairs of oppositely disposed prying members positf1-oued Vbetween sind clamping means and re- Vclplsoeally mounted relatlvely to sand frame,

va` shaftrotatebly mounted between sadprying membefs, operatmg arms secured tothe Looseo ends of said shaft and pvoteylly connected withl said pljy'ng membeljs, and" lever 10 f means forv rotating vsaid shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hanrdrat Los Ainngelesf, Cavlrforne'fths 3rd day of February, 1925."`

, FRANK B. nENNEY. 

